Punjab farmers want to be compensated to stop stubble burning 

They want AAP government to pay for the alternate disposal methods

As the harvesting of paddy (rice) has started in parts of Punjab, the six-month-old incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is all set to face the stiff challenge of dealing with the perennial menace of stubble burning, with farmers indicating that they will continue to burn paddy stubble unless government suitably compensates them for the expenses incurred on alternative methods of disposing crop residue.

Close to the autumn season every year, stubble burning remains a contributing factor to pollution in the air, especially across the country’s northern region, and the AAP, which is in power in Delhi has over the years invariably blamed Punjab for its air pollution during the autumn month. This year, however, with AAP governments in both the States, resorting to the blame game may just not be an easy way for the party.

While the paddy harvesting is yet to pick up in Punjab, so far 14 stubble-burning incidents have been reported. Government data based on satellite imagery show that in the ongoing Kharif season till September 16, as many as 14 cases of farm fires have been reported in districts Amritsar (11) and Tarn Taran (3) of the State.

According to the government data in the year 2021, as many as 71,246 cases of farm fire occurrence were reported in Punjab. In 2020, such cases were 76,590 while in 2019 there were 52,991 such incidents. In 2018, Punjab witnessed 51,766 incidents of stubble fire while in 2017, the farm fire incidents were at 50,845.

Even as the Punjab government is optimistic that the problem of stubble burning would be contained to a considerable extent this season, several farmer unions are up in arms against the government, demanding suitable monetary compensation for the expenses incurred on alternative methods of disposing crop residue. Also, the outfits have cautioned the government against resorting to any stringent action against farmers on burning the crop residue.

“The State government should first come out with an alternative and then ask farmers to refrain from burning the crop residue. We are not in favour of stubble burning but then there should be a viable option. It’s not out of choice, but out of compulsion that farmers have to burn the stubble. The Punjab government initially said they are considering giving ₹2,500 per acre to paddy growers suggesting that the Centre will pay ₹1,500 per acre while ₹1,000 per acre will be borne by Punjab and Delhi governments. But the Centre, they say, has not agreed. If the Centre has not agreed then let it be, the AAP governments should pay that amount. The government has been in power for six months now and they were very well aware of the stubble burning issue, but so far no concrete solution could be seen on the ground,” Jagmohan Singh, general secretary of Bhartiya Kisan Union Ekta (Dakaunda) told The Hindu.

“We should be given a bonus of at least ₹100 per quintal on paddy or paid ₹2,500 per acre in connection with the ban on stubble burning,” Mr. Singh said.